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Essay Test Taking Tips Before Writing out the Exam
Set up a time schedule to answer each question and to review/edit all questions.
•If six questions are to be answered in sixty minutes, allow yourself only seven minutes for each
•If questions are “weighted,” prioritize that into your time allocation for each question
•When the time is up for one question, stop writing, leave space and
begin the next question. The incomplete answers can be completed during
the review time
•Six incomplete answers will usually receive more credit than three complete ones
Read through the questions once and note if you have any choice in answering questions.
•Pay attention to how the question is phrased or to the “directives” or words such as “compare,” “contrast,” “criticize,” etc.
•Answers will come to mind immediately for some questions
Write down their key words, listings, etc. as they are fresh in
mind. Otherwise these ideas may be blocked (or be unavailable) when the
time comes to write the later questions. This will reduce “clutching”
or panic (anxiety, actually fear which disrupts thoughts).
*Before attempting to answer a question, put it in your own words.
*Now compare your version with the original. Do they mean the same
thing? If they don’t, you’ve misread the question. You’ll be surprised
how often they don’t agree.
*Think before you write. Make a brief outline for each question. Number the items in the order you will discuss them.
•Get right to the point. State your main point in the first sentence.
Use your first paragraph to provide an overview of your essay. Use the
rest of your essay to discuss these points in more detail. Back up your
points with specific information, examples or quotations from your
reading and notes.
•Teachers are influenced by compactness, completeness and clarity of an organized answer
•Writing in the hope that the right answer will somehow turn up is time-consuming and usually futile
•To know a little and to present that little well is, by and large,
superior to knowing much and presenting it poorly, when judged by the
grade received
Writing and Answering
Begin with a strong first sentence that states the main idea of
your essay. Continue this first paragraph by presenting key points.
Develop Your Argument
•Begin each paragraph with a key point from the introduction
•Develop each point in a complete paragraph
•Use transitions or enumerate to connect your points
•Hold to your time allocation and organization
•Avoid very definite statements when possible; a qualified
statement connotes a philosophic attitude, the mark of an educated
person
•Qualify answers when in doubt. It is better to say “toward the
end of the 19th century” than to say “in 1894” when you can’t remember,
whether it’s 1884 or 1894. In many cases, the approximate time is all
that is wanted; unfortunately 1894, though approximate, may be
incorrect and will usually be marked accordingly.
Summarize in your last paragraph. Restate your central idea and indicate why it is important.
Review
Complete questions left incomplete, but allow time to review all questions.
Review, edit, correct misspellings, incomplete words and sentences, miswritten dates and numbers.
Not Enough Time? Outline your answers.back to test taking tips
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